2025/26 entry
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)
Why study Nursing (Mental Health) at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Join our multi award-winning School - 'Nurse Education Provider of the Year (pre-registration)' 2021 Winner and 'Best Student Experience' 2020 Winner (Student Nursing Times Awards).
- £6,000 a year grant for Mental Health Nursing students living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus another £2,000 for students with dependent children (eligibility criteria apply).
- Learn in state of the art professional-standard clinical practice simulation suites complete with cutting edge teaching and learning technology.
- Approved by the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC).
About your course
Studying on our NMC accredited BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) degree will give you the opportunity to complete practice learning placements in a variety of settings, including hospital and out of hospital settings, and in simulated practice learning placements.
Mental Health nurses engage in, develop and disengage from therapeutic relationships with service users and their families through the use of effective communication and interpersonal skills. On the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) degree, you will gain the skills, experience and confidence to be an effective healthcare professional.
You will have lots of opportunities for practice learning experiences within a variety of settings, including secure, forensic and hospital environments, and in the community in places like home environments and clinics. You will also have the opportunity to undertake civic engagement placement learning, in settings such as charities. This wide range of experience will give you vital skills in assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating patient care and needs.
BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing is a three year, full time degree.
In each academic year you will undertake five theoretical assessments: one for each theoretical module and one practice module.
You will be assessed utilising a variety of authentic assessment methods that will enable you to achieve across a range of assessment styles. You will have access to a variety of digital resources to support your learning and wider experience.
On successful completion of the programme, you will obtain an Honours Degree and will be able to register with the NMC as a Mental Health Nurse.
You may also be interested in our BSc (Hons) Child Nursing or BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing courses. Or, if you already hold an undergraduate degree in any subject, you may be eligible to apply for our two-year qualifying MSc Mental Health Nursing programme
"I have worked in care since I was 18 and had previously worked my way up to be a house manager for an organisation providing specialist care to adults with additional support needs. I see myself progressing up as a nurse and going into management eventually. LJMU is giving me the confidence that I need to excel."
Professional accreditation/links
This programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and aligned to the Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes (NMC, 2023).
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Additional fees you may need to factor in are travel costs to placements and parking if using a car whilst on placement. However, you may be able to claim reimbursement of travel costs through the Learning Support Fund provided by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
Students who would like to buy extra uniform items, further to their standard uniform which is included in the course fees, have the option to do so. International experiences may incur costs.
Employability
Employability Description
Successful completion of the course allows you to apply for registration on the Nursing and Midwifery Register, regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This can lead to careers in the health sector at home or abroad and in the private and voluntary sectors.
There are a growing number of nurse specialist posts in some clinical areas too. Some graduates prefer to pursue careers in teaching, research or management, or continue their studies with a masters programme.
95% of our mental health nursing graduates go on to employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Source: discoveruni.gov.uk)
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
All modules in the programme are core.
Each year has five theory modules and a practice learning module. The modules ensure that all of the professional requirements for registered nurses are met.
Level 4 modules:
- Professional Practice in Nursing
- Professional Values in Nursing
- Person-centred Nursing Care
- Partnership Working and Shared Decision Making
- Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health
- Introduction to Practice Learning
Level 5 modules:
- Health Promotion and Health Policy
- Assessment in Mental Health Nursing
- Complexities in Mental Health Nursing Care
- Nursing Practice within Legal and Ethical Frameworks
- Interprofessional Collaboration in Nursing
- Developing Practice Learning
Level 6 modules:
- Person Centred Care Planning in Mental Health Nursing
- Leadership and Quality Enhancement
- Health Economics and Health Policy
- Managing Risk in Mental Health Nursing
- Nursing Interventions and Prescriber Readiness
- Advancing Practice Learning
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Professional Practice in Nursing
20 credits
This module will enable you to understand, consider and demonstrate the professional principles that underpin your practice, specifically the NMC Code, your personal and others’ expectations as an ambassador for the role. The module will consider the legal and ethical frameworks underpinning practice, as well as how to care for yourself and others.
Professional Values in Nursing
20 credits
This module will develop your understanding of the values and behaviours that are expected in nursing and to explore how the evidence base is used to underpin nursing practice, considering the provision of care in a non discriminatory manner.
Person Centred Nursing Care
20 credits
This module will facilitate you to understand key anatomy and physiology and physical and psychological health across the lifespan. The module will explore the impact of medicines, develop your understanding of pharmacology, and how these link to your ability to deliver effective person centred care.
Partnership Working and Shared Decision Making
20 credits
This module will introduce students to the principles of partnership working and shared decision making with service users, carers and families, considering communication, capacity and reasonable adjustments.
Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health
20 credits
This module aims to develop the underpinning knowledge to support the role of the nurse in health promotion, health protection and the prevention of ill health, considering health inequalities, social determinants and infection control.
Introduction to Practice Learning
20 credits
This module will introduce and develop the principles professional practice and introduce the scope of competencies for the role of the nurse, guided by the NMC Standards of Proficiency for the Registered Nurse. This module will run alongside your practice placements and will introduce the skills required for nursing practice, enabling you to engage with care of individuals across different health and care settings.
Governance of nursing procedures (Annexe B) theory will reside in practice modules and will be delivered via a blend of directed and independent leaning with some face to face delivery
Level 5
Core modules
Health Promotion and Health Policy
20 credits
This module will enable you to explore the factors that influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, and the health choices and policies that impact on health., taking into account the role of the nurse in facilitating access to care.
Interprofessional Collaboration in Nursing
20 credits
This module will develop an understanding of the nurses’ role in interprofessional collaboration across a range of health care settings. In addition there will be an exploration of individual roles and responsibilities when dealing with major incidents.
Nursing Practice within Legal and Ethical Frameworks
20 credits
This module will develop explore the concept of risk, and the legal and ethical considerations and frameworks that underpin safe practice, including risk assessments, safe staffing, consent and information sharing.
Assessment in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
This module will develop your understanding of assessing, monitoring and planning care in mental health nursing. You will also explore underpinning research methods and ethics and the application of an evidence-base to your practice. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Complexities in Mental Health Nursing Care
20 credits
This module will develop your critical understanding of the complexities of care in mental health nursing, including end of life, commonly encountered challenges, and prioritising care. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Developing Practice Learning
20 credits
The aim of this module is to support students in achieving proficiencies for registered nurses that are aligned to Part 2 of the Practice Assessment Document. In addition, students will be directed and supported to develop an understanding of the theory that underpins the NMC Standards of Proficiency Annexe B Nursing Procedures.
Level 6
Core modules
Leadership and Quality Enhancement
20 credits
This module will equip the student with the underpinning knowledge required for leading and managing care, including delegation and supporting staff. They will also develop skills to monitor risk and evaluate and enhance quality of care.
Health Economics and Health Policy
20 credits
This module will enhance the students understanding of health legislation and current health and social care policies and their influence quality of care, patient safety. They will also develop an understand of the principles of health economics and their relevance to resource allocation in health and social care organisations .
Nursing Interventions and Prescriber Readiness
20 credits
This module explores the nurse's role in the instigation of appropriate investigations their interpretation and the implementation of appropriate interventions when meeting individual care needs. This module will also prepare the student to progress to a prescribing qualification following registration
Managing Risk in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
This module will enable you to understand the concept of risk and to identify and appropriately respond to risk within individuals and organisations in Mental Health Nursing. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Person Centred Care Planning in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
This module will explore decision making within the context of individualised care in mental health nursing. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Consolidating Practice Learning
20 credits
The aim of this module is to support students in achieving proficiencies for registered nurses that are aligned to Part 3 of the Practice Assessment Document. In addition, students will be directed and supported to develop an understanding of the theory that underpins the NMC Standards of Proficiency Annexe B Nursing Procedures.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
Your learning journey has been designed to be inspiring and motivating, provide tailored support, and to meet the specific NMC requirements for registered nurses.
You will learn through a mix of:
- lectures
- seminars
- group work activities
- simulation skills development sessions
- practice placements in a range of settings
- tutorials
We use an active blended learning approach. This means you will attend face to face teaching on campus - usually at the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice, based in the Tithebarn Building (part of our City Campus), along with independent learning and work online. Examples of online activity include asynchronous tutorial discussions, discussion boards and collaborative or individual projects such as wikis, padlets, blogs and e-portfolios.
The programme is 50% practice learning experiences and 50% theory. Students will undertake blocks of practice learning experiences and blocks of theoretical based learning. Each week is 40 hours.
You will be taught by a team of professionally qualified and experienced academic staff, who have experience in designing, developing and delivering professional programmes.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
As soon as you enrol at LJMU, you will be assigned your own personal tutor. Your tutor will give you feedback on how well you are progressing with your studies and encourage you to plan for your educational and career development.
During your practice learning experiences, you will work alongside experienced nurses and be supervised by practice assessors, as well as having the support of academics and Practice Education Facilitators. Additional support is always available within the Faculty or from student services if you need it. All new students coming in to the faculty will have a Student Mentor allocated to them. Student Mentors are second and third year students who have been selected and trained to mentor new students in all aspects of university life. The student mentor service offers an exciting opportunity for personal and professional development.
We encourage students to take advantage of the study skills support available through Library Services. This covers everything from how to find the books or journals you need, through to the correct way of referencing them in your assignments.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
You will have both formative and summative assessments throughout the programme.
Formative assessments are diagnostic in nature and focus on your development, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, in addition to providing you with feedback on your progress during the learning process.
The feedback may come from several sources, including academic staff, practice supervisors and assessors, service users and wider university support staff. You may receive this verbally or in written format. Formative feedback and feedforward are helpful in your development throughout the modules.
Examples of formative activities include discussion boards to develop learning networks, a reading log, article reviews and group presentations.
Summative assessments are the module assessments that you need to pass to receive the credits for the module. Learning outcomes for the module will describe the knowledge, skills or expertise that you will need to demonstrate you have acquired to pass the assessment. As an undergraduate student, the pass mark for your assessments is usually 40%.
The assessments for each module have been designed to align with the learning outcomes and be authentic to Nursing practice. This means that assessments will require you to use the same competencies, or combinations of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that you will need to apply in your professional life.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
Part of the City Campus, the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice is based in the Tithebarn Building, adjoining the Avril Robarts Library, which is open seven days a week. In addition to specialist clinical practice suite facilities, you will find high quality seminar rooms, IT suites and lecture theatres, plus a café and social spaces.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: 104-112
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Evidence of Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
BCC-BBC Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: Maximum 20 points
BTECs
Extended Diploma DMM
Access awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
Pass overall with a minimum of 104 points including relevant subjects.
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject
OCR Cambridge Technical
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject
Irish awards
Irish Higher
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject. We will also accept the Irish FETAC in Nursing Studies. The following modules must be achieved at Distinction: Anatomy and Physiology, Human Growth and Development, Introduction to Nursing
T levels
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
International requirements
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IELTS
International applicants will be required to have IELTs scores of 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component
Further information
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DBS, Occupational Health requirements
All applicants will be sent an admissions assessment. Once this assessment is returned applications will be reviewed by the admissions team. In certain cases applicants may be invited to interview.
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RPL
Recognition of prior learning that is capable of being mapped to the Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and programme outcomes, up to a maximum of 50 percent of the programme, is permitted (NMC Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes, 2023: 1.5).
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.